Chana won best rap album, best male artist and album of the year for his sophomore Lost in Time.
Chana had his name repeatedly chanted by the crowd at the Sun City Superbowl when his categories were announced.
In an interview with the Mail & Guardian last year, Chana described himself as being his own biggest competition – a legend in the making.
"What sets me apart from other rappers is that I run my own race. You can roll me in on a kwaito beat, on a hip-hop boombap — [I'm] not really big on pop but if it sounds straight I will rap on it. I am a big believer in if it stinks it stinks, if it's dope it's dope."
The celebrated pop singer Toya Delazy also won three awards.
Delazy performed her hit Love is in the Air with rapper Reason and received the newcomer of the year award and best pop album for Due Drop Deluxe. Jax Panix won the best producer award on Friday night for their work on Toya’s album.
Surprise nominee Kelly Khumalo won in the best female category for her comeback album The Past, The Present, The Future.
Afro-fusion group Freshlyground won the duo/group of the year award and Sfiso Ncwane won record of the year for Kulungile Baba, as voted for by the public.
The almost three hour show brought together some iconic collaborations from Zonke and Kabomo, ChianoSky with DJ Zinhle ft. Busiswa, Bobby Van Jaarsveld with Oskido ft. Candy, Desmond & The Tutus with Kabelo, Professor, Sfiso and crowd pleasers DJ Vetkuk & Mahoota featuring Dr Malinga & Manqoba, among others.
The winners:
• Album of the year
Khuli Chana — Lost in Time
• MTN record of the year
Sfiso Ncwane — Kulungile Baba
• Duo or group of the year
Freshlyground — Take Me to the Dance
• Female artist of the year
Kelly Khumalo — The Past, The Present, The Future
• Male artist of the year
Khuli Chana — Lost in Time
• Newcomer of the year
Toya Delazy — Due Drop Deluxe
• Best rock album
Zebra & Giraffe — The Wisest Ones
• Best pop album
Toya Delazy — Due Drop Deluxe
• Best adult contemporary album
Elvis Blue — Journey
• Beste kontemporêre musiek album
Theuns Jordaan — Roeper
• Best African adult album
Maleh — Step Child
• Best alternative album
iScream & The Chocolate Stix — The Paradox
• Best R&B/soul/reggae album
Khaya — For You
• Best rap album
Khuli Chana — Lost in Time
• Best kwaito album
Professor — The Orientation
• Best dance album
Black Coffee — Africa Rising
• Best traditional faith music album
Various — Spirit of Praise Vol.4
• Best contemporary faith music album
Ntokozo Mbambo — Filled
• Best traditional album
Soul Brothers — Isiphithiphithi
• Best maskandi album
Ichwane Lebhaca — Inkunzi Yomthakathi
• Best jazz album
Herbie Tsoaeli — African Time
• Best classic & instrumental album
CH2 Guitar Duo Live with the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra
• Best live DVD
The Captured Tour Concert Film — Lira
• Best collaboration
Riot Feat. Zahara — Thetha Nami